DPS hires Arne Duncan's former adviser

Michael Vaughn, former key adviser for current U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan when he was head of Chicago Public Schools, has been hired to serve as top spokesman for Denver Public Schools.

Vaughn will be chief communications officer for a district that has received poor marks for its communications with the public and internally. The Council of the Great City Schools said DPS needed to get better at communicating, which is leading to a beefed up staff bent on community outreach and media relations.

Vaughn is currently director of internal communications at Chicago Public Schools.

“I am very pleased to have Mike join us,” said Superintendent Tom Boasberg. “He brings a deep set of experiences that will help us strengthen our communications capabilities.”

“Mike Vaughn was one of the key people in Chicago helping drive reform, and I am sure he will do the same for Denver,” U.S. Education Secretary Duncan said. “He knows education and knows how to communicate in ways that people really understand.”

Vaughn joined CPS in 1996, after running a string of suburban Chicago community newspapers. He began his CPS career as assistant editor of the Chicago Educator, the school system’s newspaper. After serving as both assistant editor and then managing editor of the Educator, Vaughn was promoted to deputy press secretary for the school district. He later moved up to press secretary, serving as the main spokesperson for Duncan and the school district, before being named director of communications.

Alex Sanchez, current DPS director of communications, will continue to play a key role in the new team, leading the district’s media relations and multilingual communications efforts.

“Communicating in a way people can understand”? People do understand what DPS is communicating: We don’t want to talk to you, and don’t care what you would like to say! Is this person going to say that differently, or actually talk to people with concerns and disputes with DPS?!

Kathy Hansen

“Communicating in a way people can understand”? People do understand what DPS is communicating: We don’t want to talk to you, and don’t care what you would like to say! Is this person going to say that differently, or actually talk to people with concerns and disputes with DPS?!

ScoopToo

To read an interesting interview with Michael Vaughn about the Future of Denver Public Schools, go here:

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